EastEnders actor Steve McFadden is the star of this year's panto at Dartford's Orchard theatre.

The TV bad-guy will lead the cast of the family pantomime, Aladdin, as villain Abanazar.

Steve is famous for his role as Phil Mitchell, a role he has played in the soap for 20 years.

His other television credits include Minder, The Firm, Saracens, The Bill, Hard Cases and the film Buster.

Steve said: "I am delighted to be playing the part of Abanazar in Dartford this year.

"Playing the pantomime bad guy is such great fun and there are lots of opportunities to interact with the audience during the show.

"The Orchard in Dartford has a great reputation - I'm really looking forward to playing there this Christmas."

Aladdin will also feature an array of ground-breaking 3D special effects - at certain points throughout the show the audience can rub the magic lamp as it appears in front of their nose, summon the magical 3D Genie from his lamp and join Aladdin on a superb magic carpet ride.

Jonathan Kiley executive producer for Qdos Entertainment who are staging the show, said: "We are so pleased that Steve McFadden will be starring in Aladdin at the Orchard Theatre.

"As a former British Soap Awards Villain of the Year, Steve is certainly well qualified to lead the cast as the pantomime bad guy.

"With 3D sequences, this production has all of the elements of traditional family pantomime that Dartford audiences have come to expect but also has the added element of an array of outstanding and unmissable visual effects."

Orchard Theatre director Andrew Hill said: "We're delighted that Steve McFadden will be leading the cast of our 2012 pantomime.

"We know that demand for tickets will be high, so have taken an early decision to add an extra week to the show's schedule."

Aladdin runs from Saturday, December 8 2012 to Sunday, January 6, 2013. Tickets are available on 01322 220000 or visitwww.orchardtheatre.co.uk